An official blog maintained for the Hermetic Order of Golden Dawn, an international magical fraternity dedicated to training Initiates and providing resources to students of the Western Esoteric Tradition. No flame-wars or disparaging of others will ever be tolerated or posted here.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

I am happy to report that the 2013 HOGD Conference in
Toronto (July 12-13) was a huge success. It was well attended and we met some
great and talented people from a number of different spiritual paths and magical
traditions, as well as other orders within the greater Golden Dawn community.

Friday night started off with a meet-and-greet, where Chic
and I spent time with old friends and got acquainted with new ones. Everyone present
was gracious and their sincerely to the Great Work was beyond question. After
refreshments, Chic presented his lecture
on "An Exploration of the Bornless Ritual," giving an analysis of the
origins and development of this ancient and potent invocation that found its
way into the teachings of the Golden Dawn.

Saturday morning started off with a surprise (at least to
Chic) "roast" complete with a PowerPoint presentation of photos and
stories celebrating Chic's life and accomplishments. (The roast built on a theme that started at Pantheacon
2013, where Chic was surprised by a dinner held in his honor by the
wonderful folks of the OSOGD.) I must thank our hard-working friends at Hermetic Virtues, as well as our Fratres
and Sorores of the HOGD in Toronto, who pulled
the photos, the narrative, and the PowerPoint together so skillfully. At the end of the presentation, it was my turn
to be as surprised as Chic was, when the two of us were presented with a plaque
of appreciation. We were also presented with the gift of some absolutely stunning
artwork by accomplished magician and artist, Buffalo Bob. A description of the
piece can be found here.
Much of Bob's work can be found online at
the Temple of Agios.

The remainder of the morning was taken up by Chic's lecture
on the Ceremonial Magic of the Golden Dawn, including audience participation in
the Pentagram Rituals and Israel Regardie's Opening by Watchtower. My lectures on
Westcott's Enochian Tablets and Tarot Talismans came in the afternoon.

Many thanks to all who were able to participate. I've said
it before and I'll say it again: Although we may not all be members of the same
Order, we are members of the same spiritual path, and the fact that we are able
to come together in civility, mutual
respect, and fellowship for our common goals of spreading more Light in the
greater esoteric community, speaks volumes.